Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge apparatus, valve protection method of the same liquid discharge head and maintenance system

Abstract

To provide a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge apparatus, a valve protection method of the liquid discharge head, and a maintenance device. The liquid discharge apparatus provided with: a discharge port for discharging liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port having a bubble generating region for generating bubble, a discharge energy generating element for generating thermal energy for generating the bubble in the liquid inside the bubble generating region, and a liquid discharge head facing the discharge energy generating element spaced apart from the discharge energy generating element having a movable member in which an end portion at an upstream side in a flow direction of the liquid inside the liquid flow path is fixed and a downstream end thereof is a free end, in which ink is discharged from the liquid discharge head and a recording is performed by adhering the liquid on a medium to be recorded, includes: a unit for detecting an ink supply state inside the liquid flow path, and a unit for controlling or stopping the driving to the discharge energy generating element when a judgment is made that the ink is not normally supplied based on the detection result of the ink supply state inside the liquid flow path.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: 
       a liquid discharge head comprising a discharge port for discharging liquid;  
       a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port and having a bubble generating region for generating a bubble;  
       a discharge energy generating element for generating thermal energy for generating the bubble in the liquid inside the bubble generating region;  
       a movable member facing said discharge energy generating element and spaced apart from said discharge energy generating element, an end portion of said movable member being situated at an upstream side in the flow direction of the liquid inside said liquid flow path being fixed and a downstream end of said movable member being a free end;  
       a temperature sensor for periodically detecting, at a predetermined period, a temperature inside said liquid flow path;  
       means for controlling or stopping the driving of said discharge energy generating element by estimating that the liquid is no longer being supplied into said liquid flow path, based on data on temperature rise per period, detected by said temperature sensor and printing data; and  
       an estimating means for estimating that liquid supply to said liquid flow path has become abnormal, by comparing the data on temperature rise per unit hour detected by said temperature sensor and data on temperature rise determined in accordance with the printing data,  
       wherein said liquid discharge head is provided with a plurality of sets, each set including said liquid flow path, said discharge energy generating element, said movable member, and said temperature sensor, and  
       wherein the temperature rise data determined in accordance with the printing data corresponds to a ratio of number of said liquid flow paths through which liquid is discharged from the discharge port per unit hour obtained from the printing data with respect to a total number of said liquid flow paths.  
     
     
       2. The liquid discharge apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a driving signal supply means for supplying a driving signal for allowing the liquid to eject from said liquid discharge head. 
     
     
       3. The liquid discharge apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyance means for conveying the medium to be recorded which receives the liquid discharged from said liquid discharge head. 
     
     
       4. A liquid discharge apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first memory for storing the data on temperature rise per unit hour detected by said temperature sensor and a second memory for storing the data on temperature rise determined in accordance with the printing data.